Utensil



March 30, 1948. .1. DAVIS 2,438,546

UTENSIL Filed Jan. 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR J as E P H ])A l5TORNEY March 30, 1948. I ws V 2,438,546

UTENSIL Filed Jan. 9, 1946 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JOSE PH Egg (3,4 T OP/VE K March 30, 1948. J. DAVIS 2,438,546

UTENSIL INVENTOR dos 2 PH :DAV IS ww-l A ORNEY Eatented Mar. 30, 1948Joseph Davis, South Orange,

Joseph Davis Plastics 00.,

N. 3., assign'or' to Arlington, N. .L, a

corporation of New Jersey ApplicationJanuary 9, 1946, Serial No. 640,127

2 Claims.

iihis invention relates -to improvements in thermal utensils, such ashot water dishes which are provided with a compartment for the receptionof hot water or similar heating medium. It is the object of theinvention to provide such a utensil which may be made of plasticcomposition, de signed and assembled as to have a fully sealed thermalcompartment and inherently resisting any tendency to warpage ordistortion due to conditions encountered in use.

These and other advantageous objects, which will later appear, areaccomplished by the structure shown and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of a utensil embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view thereof taken on line 2-2 of Fig.1,

Fig. 2a is a transverse, sectional View taken on line la-2a of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational View taken at the designation of the Fig. 3arrow of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line (1-4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken on line 55 ofFig. 2,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged portion of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 7 is a similar fragmentary, sectional View of another form of theinvention.

In the form of invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the utensilIll comprises a lower shell member or section II and an upper shellmember or section [2, said shell members being provided withcomplementarily directed peripheral flanges l3 and M respectively. Theflanges I3 and M are provided at their edges with interlocking parts,such as stepped shoulders H and l 8 respectively (see Fig. 5). By thisarrangement, the interlocking parts of the upper and lower shell memberspresent uniting marginal surfaces which are substantially greater thanthe cross-section of the narrower of said rim members. This constructionprovides a means for circumferentially interlocking the shell members ina positive manner while permitting of the use of rim members ofrelatively thin cross-section. To further assure the interlocking of theshell members circumferentially at; their marginal edges and to precludethe escape therefrom of water (or other thermal means which may beinserted intermediate said shell members as hereinafter described) theinterlocking marginal parts are preferably coated with cement oradhesive I9 prior to their being brought together, to firmly unite" themfor the purpose above set forth. It will be apparent that the stepped;interlocking portions l1 and it: may assume any other irregu lar outlinewhich will assure the interlocking oi the parts and will provide asubstantial; interlocking and sealing surface.

The shell members H; and [-2 are'provided with.

a stud 2G. medially projecting from one, of said shell members (as forexample, from the lowershell member ll) and adapted to be receivedwithin a medial socket member 2] provided on the other shell member(such as the upper shell. member I 2' to medially interlock the parts).Said registering members 20, 2| are directed toward the opposite shellsections. The stud 20 is preferably provided with a shouldered, reducedboss 22, adapted to be received in themedial recess 23 of the socket 21-to interlock the parts medially. If desired, the boss 22 and medialrecess 23 of the socket 2| may be provided with supplementary,complementary interlocking means 24 as shown in Fig. 7, disposed at aplane at right angles to the longitudinal aXis of the stud 2t. Saidmeans may comprise, as shown in Fig. 7, a circumferential rib providedon the boss 22 for reception in a corresponding groove in the socket 2|.The meeting edges of the socket 2| and boss 22 may be coated with acement or adhesive 25 before said parts are brought together, to furtherunite the same.

By the structure described, it will be apparent that the utensil of myinvention is provided with means for medially and circumferentiallyuniting the two sections thereof to form a substantially unitary,sealed, homogeneous structure. The upper section 12 may be provided withconcave portions 26, 21 and 28 for convenience in holding foods ofdlfierent kinds. The concave portions have dividing ribs 34, 35 definingthe inner Walls of said concave portions 25-23, said ribs being unitedat 36 at the center of the uten- $11 I 0. The concave portions 2628 areso proportioned, that when the parts are assembled as above described,they will, with the flat portion 29 of the lower shell member H define ahollow compartment or space 30 within which a thermal medium, such aswater, may be introduced, as through an opening 3| in one of the shellmemhers, said opening being normally closed by a cap 32 which may havethreaded engagement therewith (as shown in Fig. 4) and which may beprovided with a rubber or other .washer 33 to further seal said opening.

The shell members may be provided with handles 31 formed unitarily withone of the shell virtue of the members and projecting beyond thecircumference thereof.

The structure of my invention enables the utilization of plasticmaterials, which are highly sanitary, light and economical, for themanufacture of utensils and provides a structure well adapted for theintended use. It will be apparent from. a consideration of the foregoingdescription that the upper and lower shell members may be moldedin aconvenient manner and that the engaging parts thereof as above describedmaybe economically formed in the molding operation. The device is ofinherent rigidity and may be economically manufactured of plasticmaterial.

The bottom 29 of said utensil I may terminate in an annular steppedportion 38 to normally provide an air space intermediate said bottom andfiat surfaces on which the utensil I0 is positioned. The structure shownin the drawings is adapted to be used as a hot water dish; when so used,as

will be apparent from'the'foregoing description;

the structure will resist distortion and warpage by interlocking,reinforcedmedial and circumferential features thereof above described.

In dishes of this characterformed solely of lastic compositions thethermal distortion under temperature changes is unpredictable and acombination of both medial and circumferential interlock when the twoshells that form the utensil are assembled is necessary to produce adurable and efiicient article of this character.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A dish for maintaining food at a desired temperature comprising anupper shell having downwardly extending food'receiving recessesand adepending circumferential flange and a lower shell cooperating therewithto form a compartment for a removable thermal medium, said shells beingformed of a molded plastic composition subject to irregular distortionunder temperature changes, the lower shell incluuding a flaredupstanding circumeferential flange, complementary steps on the meetingedges of said flanges for interlocking engagement when the shells areassembled, an inner stud medially fixed to one shell,

and socket. g

g V JOSEPH DAVIS.

.nsrsannons orrnn The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Plumber Name 7 Date 24,636 Smith July 5, 1859 Re.10,609 Bennett June 16, 1885 455,516 Pfeffer et al.' July 7, 1891697,247 Harris Apr. 8, 1902 1,939,329 McDonald Jan. 29, 1935 2,322,665Ryan June 22, 1943 2,324,351 Baker July 13, 1943 2,329,279 Lower Sept.14, 1943 2,353,383 Bartsch July 11, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number CountryDate 2,535 Great Britain Feb. 1, 1898v

